One thing that will have disappointed Clarke early on, however, was the quality of his side’s set-piece deliveries.

On a couple of occasions they won free-kicks in dangerous areas, but both times Oliver Norwood failed to beat the first man with his ball in.

It will have infuriated the Reading manager who will have known the importance of set pieces when playing on a surface as bad as this.

Both teams struggled to get the ball down at all due to the nature of the pitch. Miss-hit crosses and miscued clearances were a familiar theme during the opening 25 minutes.

But the little football that was being played, was coming from Reading and on 28 minutes they finally fashioned the game’s first real opportunity.

It came from the industry of Jamie Mackie who got in down the right before cutting back a low cross to Pavel Pogrebnyak.

Jamie Mackie (Image: Eddie Greville)

The Russian’s first touch was good and his second was even better, but his snapshot from 15 yards crashed off the post and bounced to safety.

It was huge let-off for the hosts, but Reading were to have one themselves soon after.

Gary Liddle picked up the ball wide on the left and curled in a wicked cross which evaded everyone before clipping the far post with Adam Federici beaten.

That was the only scare for the visitors during a the first half, however, and they went into the break having enjoyed the better of the opening 45 minutes.

It was scrappy, but Clarke’s side had managed to quieten the home fans and the Reading manager would have headed back to the changing room happy at the interval.

He wouldn’t have been impressed by the start his side made the second half, however, as Jordan Obita's mistake at the back post gave Filipe Morais a chance inside the opening minute. Fortunately the Portuguese midfielder scuffed his effort and Royals managed to clear.

Alex Pearce suffered a nose injury late on (Image: Eddie Greville)

But Bradford were now on top and the crowd were roaring them on. Royals were being pinned back and when they did manage to clear their lines, Pogrebnyak was finding himself increasingly isolated.

As the pressure increased, Clarke threw on McCleary in place of Hal Robson-Kanu in a bid to get his team going again.

But Bradford were now firmly in command and they went close to breaking the deadlock 18 minutes from time when Jon Stead crossed for James Hanson, but the Bantams top scorer stabbed his effort inches past the post.

Andrew Davies then went even closer with a bullet header which fizzed over the top of Federici’s crossbar.

Reading were hanging on so Clarke sent for Yakubu, hoping the experienced Nigerian would hold up the ball and help stem the tide.

The change had little effect, however, as the hosts remained on top as the clock ticked towards the 90 minute mark.

But for all their dominance Bradford couldn’t find a way through a Reading back-line which was marshalled impressively by Michael Hector.

And Reading could even have snatched a winner in the closing stages, but Pogrebnyak failed to scramble the ball home at the back post from a Norwood free-kick.